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- Shrinkwrap product dev work is mostly still C++ on Windows
- High performance server stuff is Java, C++ and C# on Linux/Solaris and Windows
- Web Development runs the gamut from PHP to Java to C#/ASP.NET on Linux and Windows
- SQL Databases (Oracle & SQL Server) are must-have skills these days

Generally speaking it's most lucrative to specialize in a business domain, which is why ERP/CRM/DBA consultants make money. If you are going to move forward as a generalist I would concentrate on C# or Java, VB.NET is more or less a dead end.

Pretty much sums it up. Java and Oracle were the 2 that immediately came to mind; I see them far more than anything else. Hon. mention to C#/C++. Frankly stuff like UNIX and SQL are almost assumed to be known it seems, much like MS Windows and Office are for many non-techs.

For devs-- C/C++ are hot right now because of the mobile device boom. Objective C is easy to learn after that. Java is a decent starting point if you want to move to C++. Python is another nice niche for people with OOP backgrounds. Some of the MS platforms like .Net are always in demand. Look through the listings on Dice if you want to get the feel for the market.

I attend to agree with some of the comments.
I agree, Java is far from "on it's way out". Java is everywhere.
Also, "a little Perl on the side never killed anyone's chances". I always try to get customers to buy into python or ruby; but, for many, perl is always lingering around.

So after graduating college and working for a company at $38k annually for 2 years using dead languages (FoxPro and COBOL) with mostly break-fix type 'development' running quick and dirty SQL queries for one-time data pulls, I'm in the process of searching for a new position.

Leave IT, the wages are dropping and the hours are increasing.

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